Things to Do at Disneyland: The Top 11 You Will Love

Best Things to Do at Disneyland

••• Paul Hiffmeyer/Disneyland

At Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, you'll find two theme parks facing each other across a central plaza: Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. You can do all these things at Disneyland or California Adventure.

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Take a Tour

You may be anxious to get started playing at Disneyland, but they also offer some nifty tours that include a chance to Walk in Walt's Footsteps, discover the magic with your whole family or enjoy a seasonal adventure.

Celebrate a Birthday, Anniversary, or Special Occasion

If you're going to Disneyland for a special birthday, honeymoon, anniversary or another occasion, but you don't have to celebrate alone. And you don't have to pay a penny extra, either.

When you arrive, stop at Disneyland's City Hall or California Adventure Guest Relations to pick up a souvenir birthday or celebration button. And here's something not everyone knows: No one is going to check your ID to be the actual day or your birthday or anniversary.

Wear the button and you'll feel like a celebrity for sure, with Cast Members and other guests offering you best wishes all day.

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Celebrate the Holidays

••• Paul Hiffmeyer/Disneyland

In some respects, every day feels like a holiday at Disneyland. It's like Fourth of July every time they set off the fireworks.

Disneyland also gets gussied up for Halloween, and Mickey Mouse hosts a Halloween Party that has its own parade and fireworks.

The park also celebrates Christmas, with holiday-themed overlays at it's a small world and Haunted Mansion, handmade candy canes and holiday treats.

The Disney Gallery on Main Street or Off the Page in California Adventure are the best places to head to score that special collectible - or try the World of Disney Store in Downtown Disney.

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Have a Meal

••• Courtesy of Disneyland Resort

You'll find plenty of places to eat in the parks and just outside them, too, from a simple pretzel and a fountain drink to a full, sit-down dinner. Most are first-come, first served, but a few require reservations.

You can also have a meal with a side-helping of Disney characters at the Disney hotels and inside the theme parks.

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See a Show

••• Scott Brinegar/Disneyland Resort

Disneyland and California Adventure have some great live shows featuring singing, dancing and sometimes a little audience participation. If you aren't into rides, you could easily spend an entire day just watching the shows.

The Frozen show at California Adventure is a favorite. California Adventure has other options, too - including the World of Color, a water-and-lights show worth staying up late for.

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Watch a Parade

••• Courtesy of Disneyland Resort

In most places, you're lucky to see one parade a year, but at Disneyland, you can watch two or three in a single day.

In Disneyland, the Pixar Play Parade (which was previously at California Adventure) runs once or twice a day.

At California Adventure you can watch the spectacular is Paint the Night, a lighted parade with over-the-top effects.

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Watch the Fireworks

••• Carlos/Flickr/CC BY-NC 2.0

Disneyland has fireworks about 250 times a year - and they're some of the best you'll see anywhere, launched using low-smoke, low-pollution, quieter technology. They're not just pretty, they tell a story, too. And your eyes might just pop out of your head, trying to keep up with all the amazing projection effects that go with them.

A perennial favorite Fantasmic! also offers a generous helping of fireworks and special effects.

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Meet Disney Characters

What could be more fun than meeting your favorite Disney character in person? Minnie and Mickey Mouse have residences in Disneyland's Toontown where you can drop in and the Star Wars characters hold meet and greets in the Star Wars Launch Bay in Tomorrowland.

You'll also find a whole host of other characters around the parks and at special character breakfasts.

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Enjoy the Rides

••• Mark Downey / Getty Images

Rides are the reason most people go to Disneyland, and they've got a broad range of options, from gentle boat trips to the white-knuckled, scream-yourself-silly kind.